Surface plasmon resonance properties of silver nanoparticle 2D sheets on metal gratings

Novel nanostructure-coupled biosensor platform for one-step high-throughput quantification of serum neutralizing antibody after COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination efficacy depends on serum levels of the neutralizing antibodies (NAs) specific to the receptor-binding domain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. Therefore, a high-throughput rapid assay capable of measuring the total SARS-CoV-2 NA level is urgently needed for COVID-19 serodiagnosis, convalescent plasma therapy, vaccine development, and assessment. Here, we developed a novel nanoplasmonic immunosorbent assay (NanoPISA) platform for one-step rapid quantification of SARS-CoV-2 NAs in clinical serum samples for high-throughput evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. The NanoPISA platform enhanced by the use of nanoporous hollow gold nanoparticle coupling was able to detect SARS-CoV-2 NAs with a limit of detection of 0.2 pM within 15 min without washing steps. The one-step NanoPISA for SARS-CoV-2 NA detection in clinical specimens yielded good results, comparable with those obtained in the gold-standard seroneutralization test and the surrogate virus-neutralizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Collectively, the one-step NanoPISA might be a rapid and high-throughput NA-quantification platform for evaluating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Influence of Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) concentration on properties of silver nanoparticles manufactured by modified thermal treatment method

Very narrow and pure silver nanoparticles were synthesized by modified thermal treatment method via oxygen and nitrogen flow in succession. The structural and optical properties of the calcined silver nanoparticles at 600°C with diverse Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) concentrations varied from 2% to 4% were studied by means of different techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the production of pure Ag nanoparticles at a given Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) concentration. The X-ray powder diffraction spectra are evidence for the transformation of the amorphous sample at 30°C to the cubic crystalline nanostructures at the calcination temperatures for all Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) concentrations. The transmission electron microscopy images showed the creation of spherical silver nanoparticles with the average particle size decreased by increasing Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) concentrations from 4.61 nm at 2% to 2.49 nm at 4% Poly(vinylpyrrolidone). The optical properties were investigated by means of UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, which showed an increase in the conduction band of Ag nanoparticles with increasing Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) concentrations from 2.83 eV at 2% Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) to 2.94 eV at 4% Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) due to decreasing particle size. This was due to less attraction between conduction electrons and metal ions for smaller particle size corresponding to fewer atoms that made up the metal nanoparticles.

Role of Ion Dissociation on DC Conductivity and Silver Nanoparticle Formation in PVA:AgNt Based Polymer Electrolytes: Deep Insights to Ion Transport Mechanism

In this study, the role of ion dissociation on formation of silver nanoparticle and DC conductivityin PVA:AgNO₃ based solid polymer electrolyte has been discussed in detail. Samples of silver ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte were prepared by using solution cast technique. Absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectral region was used to investigate the formation of silver nanoparticles. Broad and sharp peaks due to plasmonic silver nanoparticles subjected to ion dissociation have been observed. The influence of dielectric constant on the intensity of surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) peaks attributed to silver nanoparticles was discussed. From impedance plots, the diameter of high frequency semicircle was found to be decreased with increasing salt concentration. The DC conductivity in relation to the dielectric constant was also explained. From the AC conductivity spectra, the dc conductivity was estimated to be close to that calculated from the bulk resistance. The temperature dependence of the DC conductivity was studied and found to follow Arrhenius equation within two distinguished regions. The AC conductivity at different temperatures has been studied to comprehend the ion conduction mechanism. The AC conductivity against frequency was found to obey the universal power law of Jonscher. Three distinct regions were recognized from the spectra of AC conductivity. The frequency exponent (S) was calculated for the dispersive region of the measured AC conductivity spectra. Various models were discussed to explain the behavior of S value with temperature. The behavior of S value with temperature was then used to interpret the DC conductivity pattern against 1000/T. Finally, from the comparison of calculated activation energy (E_a) and maximum barrier height (W_m), deep insights into ion conduction mechanism could be grasped.